Internship FAQs

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Navigating the World of Internships

Internships are an extremely valuable experience for students of every major. It's
important to understand the role of internships as you plan for your future career.
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about internships to help you
get started.

1. What is an internship?

An internship is a paid or unpaid, closely monitored, highly structured, strategic,
well defined, project-related program that provides professional work experience outside
of the classroom environment. An internship merges academic, personal development
and career exploration in one. Internships can be full-time over the summer or part-time
for three or more months during a semester and some can last for several years.

2. What are the different types of internships?

Even though the term internship is used interchangeably, you may also come across
the following terms:

Academic Internships: Students receive academic credit for an applied experience that
builds professional level skills through projects and activities. It is possible
for this experience to also be paid.

Paid Internships: Students receive pay for an applied experience that builds professional
level skills through projects and activities.

Service Learning: Applied experience is integrated into academic learning within a
specific course.

Co-op: These positions are typically paid, course-related, supervised, and highly
structured in nature.

Externship and Shadow Programs: This form of experience provides the opportunity to
spend anywhere from a day to several weeks observing a professional at their job.

3. What are the benefits of an internship?

There are multiple benefits to an internship. You can:

Explore Careers: Internships give students the opportunity to explore career fields
and determine if the work content/environment is the right fit.

Gain Experience: Not only are you developing skills relevant to a particular field,
you are also gaining important transferable skills that can be used in many careers.

Earn Credit: Students may have the opportunity to earn academic credit for their work.

Financial Income: Many organizations pay their interns.

4. When should I do an internship?

Your junior and senior years are the most desirable for gaining practical, hands-on
experience. At this level of your education you have most likely completed some upper-division
courses and have more skills to offer the employer. Some employers, however, are willing
to start as early as your freshman or sophomore year. These early internships will
be more exploratory in nature but will offer you the added advantage of doing multiple
internships before you graduate.

Some nationally recognized programs have opportunities specifically for graduates.
And as a Master’s level candidate, you will often enjoy a competitive advantage in
the internship job market, as you will have some advanced skills in your major.

5. Where should I do an internship?

Many factors should be considered when it comes to deciding where you should do an
internship. Learning how to research employers will help you locate companies that you may be interested in interning for.

Your academic advisor can also refer you to employers in your field of interest. If
you are going to do an internship for academic credit, you should check with your
department's faculty internship adviser/director to determine whether or not there
are any restrictions or guidelines concerning employers.

If you are doing an internship for experience only, you may need to assess your personal attributes in order to best determine what kind of learning situation will work for you.

6. Will I get academic credit for my experience?

The answer to this question varies depending on your major. Your department is the
best source to determine if you'll be able to receive academic credit for your internship.
Some departments have mandatory internship programs, while others may have no formal
program. In departments such as these, faculty may agree to supervise your experience
and award you credit.

7. How long does an internship last?

Generally the length of an internship depends upon the employer. They can be 20 hours
(part-time) per week. 40 hours (full-time) per week. This is common when internships
are in the summer. Find out ahead of time how long your internship is projected to
last.

8. Can I earn an internship after graduation?

It is possible. Many internship positions are reserved for current students and it
is highly recommended that you seek internships in your junior and senior years rather
than waiting until after you graduate. Either way, an internship is a great way to
gain experience in your field and/or explore a career of interest.